FRANKFORT - With the holiday season behind us, the General Assembly returned to Frankfort to prepare to deal with several crucial issues facing our Commonwealth.
The first task of the 2013 legislative session was to elect leadership for the respective caucuses, receive committee assignments and essentially get our footing as we get ready for the work ahead of us. It’s also a time of transition for me and the other new members in the House as we prepare for the first legislative session.

The reports of my death have only been the wishful thinking of those whose feelings I have somehow injured during my past 39 years as a community journalist.

To those offended individuals, groups, political parties, zealots of egomaniacal causes and Indiana University basketball fans, I offer my apology and proclaim that because of modern medical technology you have to deal with me for one final year.

Grant County lost a living treasure this week in the passing of Mrs. Agnes Beach.
If there ever was an example of a lady, it was Mrs. Beach.
She was soft-spoken, genteel and kind. She was also gracious and loving.
I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing her on a couple of occasions and when given the opportunity to talk about her dolls, her eyes would dance with delight as she patiently recounted the history of each one and how she came to name them.

So this sequestration, a part of the fiscal cliff, only affects the “entitlement programs”, it doesn’t affect the programs that support seniors, like transportation, home delivered meals, senior centers and protection from abuse!? Right?

Just a month left until Christmas and senior year is flying by!
It seems like just the other day was the last first day of high school and now we’re almost halfway through. With the holidays being here, it’s a great time to be thankful for all of the years and wonderful memories that Williamstown High School has given us. There is genuinely no better place to go to school.

The other day, I was grocery shopping. Nothing new, something we all do. But then, as I was perusing the pet aisle, I looked up to see a package of hotdogs lying toward the back of the shelf. Not pet food hot dogs, people food hot dogs. I picked them up and took them to the nearest store employee. She thanked me and took the package.